Brian Cipenga scores for DR Congo as England fight back, Castellón miss history by a day | OneFootball

Players whose contracts expired have now left their clubs. For Castellón that includes Salva Ruiz, Brian Cipenga and Ronaldo Pompeu, plus loanees Tommaso De Nipoti and Beñat Gerenabarrena.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, the DR Congo winger made history on 28 June by starting against Uzbekistan in the group stage. Congo won 3-1 and he became the first player to appear at a World Cup while on the books at CD Castellón.

That victory took DR Congo into the last 32 to face England on Wednesday afternoon. Coach Sébastien Desabre kept faith with Cipenga and he responded in the seventh minute, driving in from the left to beat Jordan Pickford at the near post for 0-1.

Harry Kane’s double turned the tie, sending the Three Lions into the last 16. Cipenga was a day away from becoming the first to score at a World Cup as a Castellón player, since he now belongs to UD Almería.

Castellón owner, president and custodian Voulgaris posted a veiled critique of the move, saying that if he were an agent he would find it hard to advise signing a new contract before the World Cup began. He added that a strict squad cost limit prevented a deal that made sense, and that this was the first time a player they wanted to keep had left for free, stressing players’ autonomy.

Awer Mabil is also in the Castellón squad and remains with Australia, who could yet use him at this tournament. Australia face Egypt on Friday at 20.00.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo